The Rockets open camp on Sept. 28, and while the big offseason move came at center (you remember, Dwight Howard) the team that opens the season on Oct. 30 vs. Charlotte may have a very different roster from last year. This week, the Chronicle will break down the Rockets at each position:

Small Forwards

Chandler Parsons, 6-9, 227

Experience: The former Florida Gator Parsons is entering his third season in the league and with the Rockets.

Francisco Garcia, 6-7, 195

Experience: The NBA veteran is entering his ninth season. He spent the first eight seasons with Sacramento. He was traded to the Rockets in February.

Omri Casspi, 6-9, 225

Experience: After two years in Sacramento and two in Cleveland, Casspi enters his fifth year in the league and first with the Rockets.

Ronnie Brewer, 6-7, 235

Experience: The most recent addition to the Rockets’ roster, Brewer enters his eighth year in the NBA, Brewer has spent time in Utah, Memphis, Chicago, New York and most recently Oklahoma City.

Last year:

Parsons has certainly made a name for himself in Houston- he started 76 games last year, averaged 15.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season and has easily become a fan favorite in the area.

Garcia played in 18 games for the Rockets last season and started in five. He averaged 5.5 points per game. He came up big for the team in the final two games of the postseason against Oklahoma City. He had 29 points and nine rebounds combined in those two games.

Casspi averaged 4.0 points per game last season in 43 games with the Cavaliers. He spent time in the hospital in February to remove his appendix. His best season was 2009-10 in Sacramento, when he played 25.1 minutes and scored 10.3 points per game.

Brewer has floated around the league for several years and been a key role player for several teams. Last season, he spent time in New York and Oklahoma City.

Looking ahead:

Parsons is a fan favorite who has shown steady improvement and has become a staple of the team. Parsons takes some of the credit for bringing Dwight Howard to Houston and the two of them on the court at the same time will be a nice mix for the Rockets.

Garcia came up big in the final few games of the season for the Rockets and it will be interesting to see if he can keep that up and provide depth for the team.

Free agent Casspi was picked up just days after Garcia. He has had several strong years in the league, but last year was his worst. Brewer has spent a lot of time in the league and on different teams and has been able to make solid contributions on those teams. He doesn’t have the offensive stats he had when he was first coming up, but his defensive presence has been spot on.

Between Brewer, Casspi and Garcia, the Rockets have options for role players to surround James Harden and Dwight Howard.

Feigen’s take

Chandler Parsons might be entrenched as the Rockets’ small forward, fashion model and up-and-coming celebrity, but the position gets complicated behind him. Actually, even Parsons’ role will be interesting with the addition of Dwight Howard placing even more emphasis on Parsons’ catch-and-shoot 3-point touch. The greater questions will be determining who can best take on Carlos Delfino’s vital and underrated role as a shooter behind Parsons and as a three that can slide over to be a floor-spacing four. Francisco Garcia is coming off a strong playoff series, but is not an option as a four and could be picking up playing time as a guard, anyway. Omri Casspi might be the best bet for the Delfino role, but will have to find at least the shooting touch he showed as a rookie. Ronnie Brewer is a strong defender, but also has to show he can knock down shots to grab one of the final roster spots. There is a sense that the Rockets are too high on rookie Robert Covington to let him go, even if he might not be ready yet in a win-now season. With five small forwards heading to camp, there will be a battle for playing time and the final roster spot. Yet, while all that plays out at the position, the most important key could be whether Parsons continues his development enough to go from star on the pages of “Seventeen” to “Sports Illustrated.”

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Last season: 60-22, No. 1 seed.
July forecast: The Thunder seemed like the team to beat in the West until Russell Westbrook’s knee met Patrick Beverley, and Oklahoma City was too short-handed to handle the Memphis Grizzlies. Kevin Martin, as expected, bolted to Rick Adelman’s offense in Minneapolis, and the Thunder did not make moves to reinforce their depth. But Reggie Jackson seems ready to step up, and Jeremy Lamb could fit in a limited rotation role. Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka need to bounce back from shaky postseasons, but the Thunder will go as far as Kevin Durant and Westbrook take them, which should at least include a large pile of wins.
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1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Last season: 60-22, No. 1 seed.
July forecast: The Thunder seemed like the team to beat in the West until Russell Westbrook’s knee met Patrick Beverley, and Oklahoma City was ... more

Photo: James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle

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2. San Antonio Spurs
Last season: 58-24, No. 2 seed.
July forecast: If not for a bad final minute and a Ray Allen 3-pointer, the Spurs would be back as reigning NBA champions. If Oklahoma City is likely to be hungry after its postseason disappointment, the Spurs could be hung over from theirs. But Gregg Popovich won’t let that last, and the sense of a window closing will remain. As expected, they kept free agents Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter and made a smart pickup in Marco Belinelli. With the new big three — Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard — back, the Spurs should remain among the teams to beat. less

2. San Antonio Spurs
Last season: 58-24, No. 2 seed.
July forecast: If not for a bad final minute and a Ray Allen 3-pointer, the Spurs would be back as reigning NBA champions. If Oklahoma City is likely ... more

Photo: Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press

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3. Los Angeles Clippers
Last season: 56-26, No. 4 seed.
July forecast: After quickly locking up Chris Paul, new coach Doc Rivers added perfect-fit reinforcements with Jared Dudley and J.J. Redick in the deal for Eric Bledsoe. Darren Collison replaces Bledsoe off the bench. The rest of the rotation, featuring Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Matt Barnes and Jamal Crawford with Paul, remains intact. But Rivers could be the biggest addition and a key to the Clippers’ championship chances. less

4. Houston Rockets
Last season: 45-37, No. 8 seed.
July forecast: The Rockets immediately vault from playoff team on the rise to a place in the group of contenders with the addition of Dwight Howard. Rising to the top of that list will depend not only on his returning to his Orlando levels of dominance and James Harden’s growth as a closer but to the depth around them. The return of Francisco Garcia and addition of Omri Casspi could make up for the loss of Carlos Delfino. The Rockets expect last season’s rookies Terrence Jones, Donatas Motiejunas and Patrick Beverley to grow into their roles, but Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin are also improving and vital to the Rockets’ ability to contend. less

4. Houston Rockets
Last season: 45-37, No. 8 seed.
July forecast: The Rockets immediately vault from playoff team on the rise to a place in the group of contenders with the addition of Dwight Howard. ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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5. Golden State Warriors
Last season: 47-35, sixth.
July forecast: On the day Dwight Howard chose the Rockets, the Warriors landed Andre Iguodala, who last season solidified the Nuggets to key the best regular season in franchise history. Iguodala should fit as well creating off the dribble for Warriors shooters Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes. The departures of Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry could hurt the bench, even with the additions of Marreese Speights and Toney Douglas. The key will be the health of Curry and Andrew Bogut. less

5. Golden State Warriors
Last season: 47-35, sixth.
July forecast: On the day Dwight Howard chose the Rockets, the Warriors landed Andre Iguodala, who last season solidified the Nuggets to key the best ... more

Photo: Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

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6. Memphis Grizzlies
Last season: 56-26, fifth.
July forecast: The Grizzlies have not changed much, but the priority was retaining free agents Tony Allen and Jerryd Bayless, and they got that done. The biggest change could be on the bench, where Lionel Hollins led Memphis to the best regular season in franchise history but was not brought back, replaced by assistant Dave Joerger. The Grizzlies responded well to the deal that sent out leading scorer Rudy Gay, but it took several career seasons that might be difficult to repeat in the fortified West. less

6. Memphis Grizzlies
Last season: 56-26, fifth.
July forecast: The Grizzlies have not changed much, but the priority was retaining free agents Tony Allen and Jerryd Bayless, and they got that done. The ... more

Photo: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

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7. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last season: 31-51, 12th.
July forecast: The most important thing for the Wolves could be the return of good health after a nightmarish season, but they need to retain restricted free-agent center Nikola Pekovic. If they get that done and Kevin Love returns to his pre-injury level of play, they seem to have added just what they needed. A terrible 3-point-shooting team last season, they should have that turned around with the signings of former Rockets Chase Budinger and Kevin Martin, with Martin a perfect fit with Ricky Rubio.
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7. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last season: 31-51, 12th.
July forecast: The most important thing for the Wolves could be the return of good health after a nightmarish season, but they need to retain ... more

Photo: Jim Mone / Associated Press

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8. Denver Nuggets
Last season: 57-25, No. 3 seed.
July forecast: The Lakers, Timberwolves and Nuggets could fight through the final days for the final playoff spot, with health issues likely to be the key for each after last season’s issues. The Nuggets’ youth and depth could be the key, though the loss of Andre Iguodala and injury to Danilo Gallinari will hurt. It does not help that the Nuggets let George Karl leave, though Brian Shaw is a strong, steady replacement. Darrell Arthur and J.J. Hickson are solid pickups next to JaVale McGee. Randy Foye also should fit well in a backcourt with Ty Lawson. less

8. Denver Nuggets
Last season: 57-25, No. 3 seed.
July forecast: The Lakers, Timberwolves and Nuggets could fight through the final days for the final playoff spot, with health issues likely to be the ... more